it was a successful effort to turn Gazprom into a tool of Russian foreign policy.
For Georgia, Kazakhstan and Ukraine, that means controlling the future of their energy industries and politics. For the EU, it means sustained efforts to lash Russia economically to Europe.
The Netherlands may have problems with the means, but the Dutch are pragmatic enough to recognize the inevitability of the ends.
When viewed in that light, the Dutch deal is an acknowledgement of the future shape of European-Russian relations.
For Georgia, Kazakhstan and Ukraine, that means controlling the future of their energy industries and politics. For the EU, it means sustained efforts to lash Russia economically to Europe.
The Netherlands may have problems with the means, but the Dutch are pragmatic enough to recognize the inevitability of the ends.
When viewed in that light, the Dutch deal is an acknowledgement of the future shape of European-Russian relations.
Gasunie is crafting a relationship with Gazprom today in order to stake a claim to what will be Europe's predominant power source a generation from now.
Peter Zeihan
Mr. Peter Zeihan is an analyst with STRATFOR.com.
Additional analysis from STRATFOR.com can be found at: http://www.stratfor.com.
This article is reprinted with permission from the publisher.
Peter Zeihan
Mr. Peter Zeihan is an analyst with STRATFOR.com.
Additional analysis from STRATFOR.com can be found at: http://www.stratfor.com.
This article is reprinted with permission from the publisher.